New Cases of Deadly Mosquito Virus Confirmed in Massachusetts
By Adriana DiDio
National News Writer
Though it is September and cool weather seems to be approaching, new reports of the rare and life-threatening EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) disease have elevated risk levels in many Massachusetts communities. Nearly two hundred neighborhoods have been categorized as having critical, high, or moderate risk. Recently, the Massachusetts Department of Health released reports of two new cases; a 5-year-old girl and 60-year-old woman have been confirmed to be infected by this rare mosquito-borne illness. Unfortunately, the 5-year-old girl is reported to be in critical condition. The number of reports in 2019 has now risen to seven infected humans and eight infected animals, the latter consisting of horses and goats. In late August, another human fatality was reported; Laurie Sylvia, a Massachusetts realtor, passed away not even a week after her symptoms of the EEE virus began. Michigan has also made reports of the EEE virus spreading, with an infected 14-year-old being put on a ventilator in addition to two other potentially infected humans. Additionally, Michigan has reported six infected horses found dead this year.
Massachusetts State epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown considered these reports of seven infections in the state to be particularly high and believes in the possibility of more infection and potential fatalities. Despite being primarily known to affect animals, the EEE virus is transmittable to humans of any age. Though statistics show that some age groups are more at risk of infection than others, with individuals over 50 and children under age 15 being most susceptible, everyone is encouraged to be cautious through their daily endeavors to try and minimize their risk of EEE. In order to limit the expansion of this deadly disease, authorities have taken extensive preventative measures, spraying the most at-risk areas in Massachusetts to try to rid these communities of any potentially infected mosquitos.
Even so, Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel has advised all citizens, especially those in high risk areas, to always use bug spray—specifically, spray with DEET or lemon eucalyptus— to wear full-coverage clothing, repair broken window screens, and to stay indoors during the mosquito biting hours (dusk to dawn). The mayors of New Bedford and Rochester went so far as to initiate sunset curfews for the city properties, and some areas have required football games and other athletic events to be limited to the daytime rather than taking place at night. Additionally, because the mating area for these mosquitoes is standing water, citizens have been warned to drain any stagnant water accumulating in pool covers and birdbaths.
These extreme precautions on the part of Massachusetts officials are owed to the fact that EEE is an immensely dangerous illness. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 percent of reported cases are said to be fatal. Recovery in humans is only possible if EEE never makes its way to the brain, and even survivors experience extreme mental and physical complications that can impair their quality of life. Boston Children’s Hospital has found that it takes approximately ten days for EEE infection symptoms to become noticeable, and blood samples are necessary to validate the presence of the infection. Reports show that individuals will initially experience ordinary “flu”-like symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and fevers. However, the following tell-tale symptoms include confusion, disorientation, comas, personality changes and even seizures. There have been no reports of any effective treatments to get rid of the infection. Though there are different treatments that can help minimize the intensity of the symptoms, there is no direct cure that will rid this deadly disease from the human body.
Contact Adriana at adriana.didio@student.shu.edu